What process involves resolving conflicts outside the court system by utilizing neutral parties?

The process that involves resolving conflicts outside the court system by utilizing neutral parties is arbitration. In arbitration, the parties involved in a dispute agree to submit their conflict to one or more neutral arbitrators, who hear both sides and then make a binding decision. This method is designed to provide a quicker and more cost-effective alternative to litigation, which is the traditional court-based approach to resolving disputes.

Unlike mediation, which focuses on facilitating a discussion between parties with the goal of reaching a mutually acceptable agreement without the arbitrator making a decision, arbitration results in a resolution determined by the arbitrator. Arbitration can take various forms, including binding and non-binding arbitration, where binding arbitration means the decision is final and enforceable in court, whereas non-binding arbitration allows for the option of taking the dispute to court if the parties do not agree with the arbitrator’s decision.

Litigation, on the other hand, involves legal proceedings in a court of law and is usually more formal, often taking a longer time to resolve compared to arbitration. Negotiation refers to the informal discussion between parties to reach a mutual agreement, which may or may not involve neutral third parties, but does not include a binding resolution by those parties.

Thus, arbitration is a well-established method for conflict